From $2,436.00
Book now!Galapagos Islands Cruise aboard the first class motor catamaran Archipell I
Six Days / Five Nights
Minimum Two persons
Departures from USA: October 18, October 25, November 15 and November 22, 2015
ITINERARY
Day 1: Sunday – Arrival in Quito
Meeting, assistance and private transfer from airport to hotel for overnight.
Overnight accommodations Hotel Boutique Anahi – Double Room
Day 2: Monday – Quito / Galapagos Islands
Baltra Airport / North Seymour Island (B/L/D)
Motor Catamaran Archipell I – Five Day Cruise – Itinerary B1
Breakfast at the hotel. Private transfer from hotel to airport for your flight to Baltra Airport. Upon arrival our guide will be waiting for you at Baltra Airport and once the group is completed he/she will accompany you to the Archipell I Catamaran which is anchored in Baltra harbor. After arrival on board, we will check in and give you general information. Lunch will be provided. Afterwards, you will start with your first excursion to North Seymour. It is located slightly to the north of Baltra. It is a low, flat island, formed as a result of submarine lava formation uplift. Covered with low vegetation, it contains the largest colony of magnificent frigate birds in the Galapagos. There is also a large population of blue-footed boobies that perform an amusing courtship dance when nesting conditions are right. It really is one of the highlights of this island.
Day 3: Tuesday – Genovesa / El Barranco / Darwin Bay (B/L/D)
El Barranco (Prince Philip’s Steps) is a staircase carved out of stone. This will lead you to a wide plateau, where you can observe large colonies of masked boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and bahama ducks. During this easy stroll you will cross a little Scalesia woodland, in which you can observe the short-eared owl. The same path will lead you back to your catamaran. Darwin Bay is the only sandy beach found in the crater of Genovesa Island. Colonies of great frigates are found along the beach. The males exhibit their red balloon pouch to females in hope of a match. Red-footed boobies nest in the trees in contrast to the other two booby species which nest in the ground.
Day 4: Wednesday – Bartolomé / Santiago Island: Sullivan Bay (B/L/D)
At Bartolomé Island you will ascend to admire the spectacular panorama of Sullivan Bay and the famous Pinnacle Rock. The beaches at the foot of Pinnacle Rock are excellent for snorkeling and for discovering the marvelous Galapagos underwater world. In the afternoon, you will visit Sullivan Bay on the east coast of Santiago Island. We land on a white coral sand beach and begin our walk over lava that flowed less than 100 years ago. This is the perfect place to see and feel the volcanic origin of the Galapagos.
Day 5: Thursday – Santa Cruz Island / Highlands / The Charles Darwin Research Station & Tortuga Bay (B/L/D)
The Highlands of Santa Cruz have incredible zones of vegetation. There you will visit the private farm “Las Primicias”. This reserve offers you one of the best possibilities to see the giant turtles of Santa Cruz Island in their natural habitat. You can observe them from a very close distance. Charles Darwin Research Station features an information center, a museum, a library and a tortoise breeding station. In the tortoise breeding station you can encounter tortoises of different subspecies, which get prepared for reintroduction to their natural habitats. This was the home of the famous Lonesome George turtle. (If your cruise takes only 4 days after this visit you will fly back to mainland Ecuador). Tortuga Bay is considered to be one of the most beautiful beaches in Galapagos. The sunsets here are just stunning. It is also a favorite place for sea turtles (which gave the name to the beach), sea lions, marine iguanas, pelicans, flamingos and lava gulls which are endemic to the Islands. Last night at the charming Hotel Fernandina in Puerto Ayora
Day 6: Friday – Santa Cruz Island / Twins / Baltra Airport (B)
On our last day, we will visit “Los Gemelos” (The Twins), two enormous collapsed lava chambers, inspiring visual reminder of the power of nature. The short, easy hike to each of the twins is teeming with endemic flora and fauna, including the remaining Scalesia Forest draped in liverwort. After this visit you will be transferred to the Baltra airport for your flight back to Quito or Guayaquil to connect with your international return home flight.
NOTE: If you plan to extend your stay in Ecuador either before or after cruise, we will be glad to arrange additional land services, tours and hotel accommodations.
RATE PER PERSON BASED ON DOUBLE OCCUPANCY:
FROM FORT LAUDERDALE: Travel Agents: $2,436.00 – Companion: $2,436.00
FROM NEW YORK (JFK): Travel Agents: $2,656.00 – Companion: $2,656.00
RATE INCLUDES:
Round trip air Ft. Lauderdale or New York (JFK) to Quito and Galapagos. Four day Galapagos cruise program as per itinerary aboard the Motor Catamaran Archipell I. Fully escorted daily excursions by English speaking naturalist guides. Daily briefings. One night at the Hotel Boutique Anahi in Quito based on double occupancy. Daily breakfast. All private transfers in Quito. All transfers in Galapagos. All hotel taxes and service fees.
NOT INCLUDED:
International departure taxes, fuel surcharges to be quoted separately. Galapagos National Park entrance fees $120 per person. Land services, tours not indicated in itinerary. Meals not indicated in itinerary. Gratuities and tips to guides. Expenses of personal nature.
